Alert and Major Shocker: Denzel Washington - a rabid anti-atheist - Atheist Nexus2015-03-03T23:08:24Zhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/alert-and-major-shocker-denzel-washington-a-rabid-anti-atheist?commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A1886296&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI think it is common for peop…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-14:2182797:Comment:18862962012-03-14T00:33:55.604Zmojo5501http://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/mojo5501
<p>I think it is common for people to use the term 'atheist' when they mean to use the term 'nihilist'. As if the two are interchangeable. I wonder if this is what happened in the case of Denzel Washington's choice of words. Just yesterday I drove past one of those annoying church signs with the following nugget of wisdom: "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil. It doesn't have a point."</p>
<p></p>
<p>What struck me as I passed the sign was how I automatically wanted to argue…</p>
<p>I think it is common for people to use the term 'atheist' when they mean to use the term 'nihilist'. As if the two are interchangeable. I wonder if this is what happened in the case of Denzel Washington's choice of words. Just yesterday I drove past one of those annoying church signs with the following nugget of wisdom: "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil. It doesn't have a point."</p>
<p></p>
<p>What struck me as I passed the sign was how I automatically wanted to argue against any assumption that people who don't believe in a deity are somehow leading empty, meaningless lives. And Denzel's comments feed right into the misperception that atheists are also immoral, bad people. Unfortunately, I think this inaccurate and simplistic stereotyping is becoming generalized to the degree that most Christians (even well educated, college-educated Christians) don't think twice about demonizing atheists... we are the perfect scapegoats after all! </p>
<p>The only thing I personally think we can do is prove those assumptions wrong in our daily encounters with people...and I would certainly love to see some of the Hollywood community of atheists come out and show Mr. Washington how wrong he is and that he's got no reason to fear us or hate us.</p> OK. I'll sacrifice and go wit…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-12:2182797:Comment:18853222012-03-12T17:24:15.892ZRegina Mhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/ReginaMiller
<p>OK. I'll sacrifice and go with you...</p>
<p>OK. I'll sacrifice and go with you...</p> Oops-my bad. Stupid assumptio…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-12:2182797:Comment:18851802012-03-12T17:21:34.542ZRegina Mhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/ReginaMiller
<p>Oops-my bad. Stupid assumptions.</p>
<p>Oops-my bad. Stupid assumptions.</p> Actually, no. The alleged quo…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-10:2182797:Comment:18831962012-03-10T20:27:11.333ZDavid Philip Norrishttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DavidPhilipNorris
<p>Actually, no. The alleged quote came from Martha Stout's book, <em>The Sociopath Next Door,</em> but nowhere does she mention atheism. That's seems to be Denzel's personal takeaway from what he read.</p>
<p>Actually, no. The alleged quote came from Martha Stout's book, <em>The Sociopath Next Door,</em> but nowhere does she mention atheism. That's seems to be Denzel's personal takeaway from what he read.</p> I would be happy to show him…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-10:2182797:Comment:18831812012-03-10T19:28:26.391ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
<p>I would be happy to show him the gentle, generous, caring side of an atheist, so he can see we are not evil amoral Stalinist psychopaths. Nothing works better than knowing someone. Get me his number, and I'll volunteer.</p>
<p>I would be happy to show him the gentle, generous, caring side of an atheist, so he can see we are not evil amoral Stalinist psychopaths. Nothing works better than knowing someone. Get me his number, and I'll volunteer.</p> You're right. If you compare…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-10:2182797:Comment:18831662012-03-10T17:11:59.032Zeric stonehttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/ericstone
<p>You're right. If you compare the percentages of the atheist and religious populations that are in American prisons as of 1997, christians had about a 25 fold greater ratio and moslems about a 240 fold greater ratio than atheists. The ratio that I'm referring to is the percentage of their respective total population that was incarcerated as of that time.</p>
<p>You're right. If you compare the percentages of the atheist and religious populations that are in American prisons as of 1997, christians had about a 25 fold greater ratio and moslems about a 240 fold greater ratio than atheists. The ratio that I'm referring to is the percentage of their respective total population that was incarcerated as of that time.</p> "The majority of them &lt;soc…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-10:2182797:Comment:18828092012-03-10T14:42:12.298ZRegina Mhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/ReginaMiller
<p>"<span>The majority of them &lt;sociopaths&gt; are atheists as well." I question this quote and wouldn't mind seeing actual statistics. I realize this probably comes from the author and not Denzel, but it brings to mind someone saying that 'most inmates are atheist' when studies have proven that to be untrue.</span></p>
<p><span><br></br></span></p>
<p>One of the reasons to question it is for the exact examples you bring up! Bachmann et al couch their sociopathy under the guise of religiousity…</p>
<p>"<span>The majority of them &lt;sociopaths&gt; are atheists as well." I question this quote and wouldn't mind seeing actual statistics. I realize this probably comes from the author and not Denzel, but it brings to mind someone saying that 'most inmates are atheist' when studies have proven that to be untrue.</span></p>
<p><span><br/></span></p>
<p>One of the reasons to question it is for the exact examples you bring up! Bachmann et al couch their sociopathy under the guise of religiousity which helps to shield them from reasonable debate. Such willful evilness makes my stomach curdle.</p> You should totally go there.tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-10:2182797:Comment:18829752012-03-10T14:19:00.404ZRegina Mhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/ReginaMiller
<p>You should totally go there.</p>
<p>You should totally go there.</p> Well written and I agree with…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-08:2182797:Comment:18811582012-03-08T21:12:25.458ZDaniel Whttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Daniel57
<p>Well written and I agree with you. I've often thought that people like Bachmann were without empathy and had no morals beyond their desire to manipulate others, so would be considered sociopath. Washington is kind of small potatoes in the scheme of things.</p>
<p>Well written and I agree with you. I've often thought that people like Bachmann were without empathy and had no morals beyond their desire to manipulate others, so would be considered sociopath. Washington is kind of small potatoes in the scheme of things.</p> The bigger problem is that De…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-03-08:2182797:Comment:18811512012-03-08T21:01:07.271ZDavid Philip Norrishttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DavidPhilipNorris
<p>The bigger problem is that Denzel seems to not understand what a true sociopath is. His religious beliefs don't allow him to see what atheism is.</p>
<p>The bigger problem is that Denzel seems to not understand what a true sociopath is. His religious beliefs don't allow him to see what atheism is.</p>